Does your carpet need some revitalizing? Are you dealing with tough stains that you don't know how you're going to get rid of? Before you call in the professional carpet cleaners or go to the store for expensive cleaning solutions, check your cabinets and your pantry. You may be able to make a great natural carpet cleaner out of materials that you already have around the house. Check out these home remedies that can leave your carpet looking like new.

For a Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaner

Is the whole carpet filthy? Want your floors to get a good, soapy scrub? Mix up a solution of two parts water, one part castile soap, and a shot of vodka. The castile soap will get the grime out of your carpets, and the vodka will sanitize them, and neutralize any germs that you have living in your carpets. For best results, work the mixture into a lather before vacuuming up the liquid.

For Pre-treating Stains

Want to get the stains out of one specific part of the carpet? Make your own stain remover with vinegar, water, lemon essential oil, and baking soda. Start by mixing the lemon oil and the baking soda together and sprinkling the mixture over the stain. Make sure to cover the entire stained area. You can let this mixture sit on the stain for at least an hour. For really tough stains, apply it before you go to bed and let it sit overnight.

Once the baking soda and lemon mixture has had a chance to work, mix up one part vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle. Spray a generous amount onto the stain on top of the baking soda mixture. You'll see it fizz as the vinegar reacts with the baking soda. Allow the fizzing to go down, then press a rag or towel onto the carpet to absorb the moisture. Repeat as needed.

For Brightening up a Faded Carpet

Maybe your carpet isn't stained or especially filthy, just old and faded-looking. You can brighten it up easily by sprinkling salt into the carpet. Cover the whole area so that the effects will be even – you don't want to leave faded spots. Let the salt sit in the carpet for about an hour, then vacuum it up. You'll be amazed by how new and bright your carpet looks.

Natural remedies can be used to take care of most ordinary stains and dirt without damaging the carpet. If your carpet is too stained or too filthy for these remedies, a call to a good carpet cleaning company should be your next step. Professional carpet cleaners can get to the deep dirt and stains without damaging the carpets. Remember to ask your carpet cleaning company (such as HCBC Services) to use green, natural cleaning methods.